Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 1191 His Majesty's Personal Sacrifice

   Zhang Mao was good at wiping old tears. Suddenly, there was a feeling of being a hero.

  Looking at the front of my eyes, this former young man thought that he was tall and big back then, but this little guy, in front of him, was only thin and short, like a weak chicken.

   But now, Zhang Mao's back is bent, but Fang Jifan is still handsome, and his body is even taller.

   The era that belonged to him and that group of old guys has passed.

  He held Fang Jifan's hand: "Everyone is bound to die, hey, we must mourn..."

  Fang Jifan said: "It's not death, it's death."

  Zhang Mao: "..."

  No matter what, he couldn't understand why Fang Jifan was stronger than himself.

He finally stopped his tears and said: "I presided over the sacrifice according to the order. This sacrifice must not be sloppy. The so-called people can be deceived, but ghosts and gods are difficult to deceive. Therefore, we living people sacrifice heroic spirits. Rules, what kind of person, which door to enter through, what kind of ceremony to do, what to say, you need to be careful, if you don't make arrangements in advance, you will collide with the gods, this... will bring disaster to your children and grandchildren."

   "Come on...you sit down."

  Fang Jifan had no choice but to sit down as promised.

  Zhang Maodao: "Come here, get something."

  A moment later, someone accompanying him came with a stack of thick books in both hands, and put them on Zhang Mao's case.

Zhang Mao took out one at random: "This is the Book of Rites." He took out another one: "This is the Great Proclamation." Then he said: "There is this one, this one, and this one... here, all It's the regulations, so-called everything, you need to learn to use allusions, what are allusions? Do you know how many sticks of incense are needed for a few days?"

  Fang Jifan shook his head in bewilderment.

  Zhang Mao lamented that people's hearts are not old, and the rules of the ancestors are really fading day by day among the next generation of royal relatives. How can this happen?

He cheered up and tried to give Fang Jifan a detailed explanation with his fingers, but he thought about it, shook his head, now he wants to teach this kid, I don't know if it will take a year of the monkey, even though he will teach and organize, he can't delay the ceremony, the time will not wait people.

So, he sighed, and said: "These can be learned later, no matter, these old men come to cook, but you and Zhengqing, as filial sons and grandsons, although this is a national sacrifice, not a family sacrifice, among the national sacrifices, Since there should be a ceremony for descendants to comfort their ancestors, how to behave properly, but it must be done according to the regulations. The old man is here for this, Jifan, you must not make any mistakes, come on, let me first Let me teach you these simple things, and when the time comes, you can follow the scriptures."

   "Oh." I heard that it was easy, but Fang Jifan finally managed to exert himself.

  He was complicated in his heart, and he always couldn't believe that his father was dead.

   Maybe it was unacceptable, or, deep down, he was always looking forward to a miracle, or, this was his instinct.

   But no matter what, Zhang Mao burst into tears, what else could he say, simple is good.

Zhang Mao then started to talk. This talk lasted for more than an hour, his mouth was dry, while Fang Jifan was dizzy and couldn't help crying in his heart, Dad, don't be serious. Dead, if you are dead and your son stays in the world, it will be a living punishment. What kind of rules are these? I would rather a white-haired man give me a black-haired man.

  Zhang Mao took a sip of tea and paused for a while, Fang Jifan said: "Shibo, are you finished?"

   "Not yet, there is more than half of it." Zhang Mao said: "This is just a small rule, what did I say just now, yes, stand up, this is a national sacrifice, you should wear hemp and mourning, stand facing south, right under your majesty..."

   "Old Fang...Old Fang..." Hearing Zhu Houzhao's voice from outside, he was rasping his throat and making a fool of himself.

  When Fang Jifan heard this, he suddenly felt that Zhu Houzhao was his true brother.

  Zhang Mao frowned.

  Fang Jifan said: "Shi Bo, His Royal Highness must have important events, Shi Bo, what's the matter, you write it down, these rules, once I recite them, won't it be done?"

Zhang Maodao: "This kind of thing can only be understood and cannot be explained in words. There are so many officials in the temple, why does His Majesty only trust the old man? On the one hand, it is true that His Majesty loves you. On the other hand, it is also a rule I know. Compared with others Many, those who only know how to extract chapters and copy sentences from books, how do they know this..."

   "That's it, it's a deal." Fang Jifan left a word and ran out.

  Outside, I saw Zhu Houzhao coming in a hurry, saw Fang Jifan, just about to speak, Fang Jifan grabbed him by the lapel: "Run."

Zhu Houzhao was furious, and wanted to open Fang Jifan's hand, but when he thought that he had to prevent Fang Jifan from thinking about it, he said with a smile: "You pull the skirt well, and it just strangles my neck, so that I don't feel suffocated." , but under your restraint, Lao Fang, you are really powerful, I want to learn... oops, I can't breathe..."

   Stumbling and being dragged out by Fang Jifan, Fang Jifan heaved a sigh of relief: "What's the matter?"

  Zhu Houzhao rubbed his neck desperately, turned blue, and complained: "According to your wishes, we took down a group of Portuguese envoys, but... alone we let go of Wang Xizuo and another Portuguese."

  Fang Jifan said: "Very good, how did they go to sea?"

   "It's a private boat. Of course, on the surface, it has nothing to do with us."

  Fang Jifan said: "This is great."

  Zhu Houzhao said: "I'm afraid that this Wang Xizuo will turn his face and deny anyone once he goes out to sea."

   "I will recognize it." Fang Jifan said lightly: "He secretly bought two houses in Xincheng. I don't believe that he dares to go far away and turn his face and deny anyone."

  Zhu Houzhao still feels uneasy, they are all Francois, this Wang Xizuo...

  Four Spanish ships were defeated this time.

  Naturally, the Ming court should take the anger out on all the Francois, regardless of whether you are Spain or Portugal, they are teeth anyway.

   After taking down the man, let Wang Xizuo and another envoy go, just let them find a way to escape back to Luzon.

  Although these two are Portuguese, the Kingdom of Spain has lost four ships and thousands of people have disappeared. It is necessary to try their best to find out the news.

  These two escaped people naturally became crucial figures.

  Wang Xizuo, as a matter of course, approached the Spaniards. As for what to do next, it depends on how he adapts to the situation.

  Zhu Hou took care of Fang Jifan: "In the future, there will be sacrifices. I think your face is not good. Old Fang, you must mourn."

   It seemed that everyone looked at themselves with sympathetic eyes.

  Fang Jifan is used to it.

  ...

  A fast ship from Japan appeared in Tianjin Wei again.

  Tianjin Wei’s Express Delivery Shop was frightened when it saw the news from Huang Jinzhou again.

  Golden Continent, for such a small volume of information, the manpower and material resources spent are astonishing.

  A piece of thin paper may only cost tens of thousands of taels of silver.

   For any news from Huangjinzhou, the courier shop did not dare to take it lightly, and immediately ordered someone to arrange a fast horse and send it to the capital.

  ………

  The third day of November is a good day.

  Emperor Hongzhi got up early in the morning, before the time of Mao, the Qianning Palace was already brightly lit. He changed into a mianfu and a crown of heaven on his head. This sacrifice will be held in the Taimiao.

  The Xiangdian of the Taimiao is dedicated to the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, and on the left and right of the main building of the Xiangdian, there are east side halls and west side halls.

  East side hall worships meritorious princes and county kings, while west side hall worships civil servants with great merit.

This time, for the ceremony, you need to go to Xiangdian first. Emperor Hongzhi personally burned the sacrificial oracle. In the sacrificial oracle, it was written about the wolfish ambitions of the Franji Spaniards against Daming, and how Daming counterattacked. Please bless the ancestors. Peaceful.

   Immediately afterwards, Emperor Hongzhi will move to the East Side Hall to offer sacrifices to Fang Jinglong, the late King of Xinjin County.

  Many of the ceremonies were decided by Emperor Hongzhi, and many etiquettes were beyond the status of the county king.

  Xiao Jing personally straightened the Tongtian Crown for Emperor Hongzhi, while smoothing the crown of Emperor Hongzhi, said: "Your Majesty, the carriage is ready."

   "What time is it?" Emperor Hongzhi said.

   "It's almost Mao o'clock."

  It was still early, Emperor Hongzhi said: "Come and pour a cup of tea."

  Xiao Jing hurriedly poured tea.

  Emperor Hongzhi said: "There is nothing wrong with British Duke."

   "Everything is ready, the only fly in the ointment is... yes... the British public is worried..."

   "What are you worried about?" Emperor Hongzhi said.

   "Worried that Qi Guogong was too sad and forgot the etiquette of sacrifice."

"Hey..." Emperor Hongzhi said, "I can understand how sad I am. How many people can bear the pain of losing their father? Don't think that Fang Jifan is always smiling. He is a dutiful son. I understand him. "

  Emperor Hongzhi took a sip of tea, and after expressing his emotions, he couldn't help but said: "Let a ritual officer follow him to remind him at any time, lest he lose his manners in the temple. This is a major event, and no mistakes can be made."

  Xiao Jingdao: "Yes, this servant also thinks so."

After drinking a cup of tea, the sky was already light, and Emperor Hongzhi stood up. He had complicated thoughts about this sacrifice. On the one hand, he wanted to announce the good news to his ancestors; field.

  Emperor Hongzhi got into the car, and the Jinwu Guards on the left and the Han generals crowded around the chariots and horses.

   At this time, under the dawn, the Daming Gate is already open.

  When Sheng Jia left the Daming Gate, the civil and military officials who had been waiting here for a long time all bowed to the left and right of the imperial road, shouting long live. Immediately, people stood up and followed Sheng Jia, walking towards the Taimiao.

  At this time, everyone was wearing auspicious clothes, and all of them showed mournful expressions.

  Zhu Houzhao followed Fang Jifan every step of the way, while Fang Jifan looked blank, watching the huge formation, suddenly he found that he seemed to have to accept a terrible fact.

  My own father... Nine out of ten, he really died.

  (end of this chapter)